Tuesday, July 18, 2006

"Mom, are you watching?" my son asked me again last night as I drifted off to sleep while watching Gundam Seed Destiny with him. "You have to watch!" Ok, I mumbled. Bleary-eyed, I tried my best to follow along.

As I watched the cartoon on Cartoon Network, I couldn't help thinking I'm getting too old for this. To me, everyone looks the same. I could not tell if that was Kira or Athrun, or Mir or Lacus. They all have the same big wide eyes typical of Japanese anime. Their hairstyles are all the same, all layered and cut blunt. Even the gundam suits look all the same to me. It's a far cry from the days when I could tell Voltes V from Mazinger Z and Daimos.

Ever since he learned I watched Voltes V as a kid back in the 70s, my son made it his project to get me in on his favorite anime. He excitedly lent me his Gundam Seed manga comicbooks and checked on me if I'm moving along in my reading. I'm now in the last book, number 5. Eight thirty p.m. is also a big event five days a week as it is time for Gundam Seed Destiny. Many times, I referred to it only as Gundam Seed, and he would always correct me, saying, "It's Gundam Seed Destiny!"

Obviously, my fascination with anime ended with Voltes V. But I couldn't pass up on the chance to connect with my son, who will be entering his teenage years in two years. Nowadays I have the answers when he asks, "Who would you want to be: a Natural or a Coordinator?" or, "What is your favorite gundam?" Sometimes I think I'm not in my thirties.

Sometimes I also catch myself singing "Soaring, flying..." or "We're all in this together..." Yes, I confess, I watched High School Musical three times this month on Disney Channel. My son hates it, and there I found my weapon. Whenever he has to do homework and refuses to do it, I sing the first few bars of either song and he does his homework pronto just so I'll stop. Sometimes it's good not to act like I'm in my thirties. :-)

BOOK OF THE WEEK: These days, I'm reading Healthy Aging by Dr. Andrew Weil. It's a book on wellness and aging gracefully. I'm particularly interested on healthy eating and stress management. I've been told that stress had a lot to do with my bad back. I'd like to look young as the years go by, without resorting to face lifts, Botox and liposuction.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Proverbs 3:1-2

About Me

My name is Karen Galarpe. I knew I wanted to be a writer as early as Grade 4 when my sis gave me a Hello Kitty diary for Christmas. Got sidetracked for a while in the world of finance (as a CPA), but went back to my first love, writing. Now I realize this is God's gift and I should use it to honor Him and encourage people around me.